Holster harness



Dec. 25,1951 TH 2,579,782

HOLSTER HARNESS Filed March 1, 1950 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoulder holsters for small arms, as pistols of the revolver, automatic or other type.

By the present invention there is provided an improved suspensory for the holster, so constructed and arranged as to avoid the usual chafing under an armpit; such suspensory including a body harness capable of being given a fine adjustment in regard to the tension between the holster and the strap elements of said harness. The combination provided by the invention incorporates means, including main shoulder strap at the holster, such that the wearer may fit the holster as close to his body as desired, without possibility of accidental shift of the holster from his left armpit.

By the arrangement provided, said main strap is positively restrained against any chance of ever accidentally slipping off the left shoulder, under any circumstances, as in hand to hand fighting at close quarters even after the wearer falls to the ground, or as in stooping low for a dropped object, or when he is forced by exigencies of combat with a criminal to any exceptionally abnormal fighting position or posture. A feature of the invention, also, is that the combination provided is such that the weight primarily if not wholly on the muscles and tendons there adjacent.

Furthermore, the harness component of the invention, this incorporating a back strap arrangement automatically adapting itself to different postures of the wearer, is so included in the complete combination that there is a positive prevention of any slippage of any strap portion up to the shirt or coat collar, and thus a positive assurance is had that the presence of the harness will never be revealed, and that the wearing of the holster with its weapon therein is not to be detected.

A further feature of the invention is that the harness is so constructed that the same, together with the holster, may act as a substitute for the ordinary over-the-shoulders suspenders for holding up a pair of trousers.

The new combination of the invention, moreover, is of a nature such that the harness associated with the holster will have a durability equal to the life of the holster itself.

A further object of the invention proposesa novel means for attaching the bottom end of the holster to the top of the trousers in a manner so that the bottom end of the holster is free for limited vertical shifting relative to the top of the trousers without effecting the position of the trousers on the body.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct an improved shoulder holster which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawin s, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 illustrates the shoulder holster of present invention in position on a wearer shown in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View, showing said embodiment, removed from the wearer, and with the harness spread out.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking at the inside top edge portion of a pair of trousers and showing the bottom end of the holster attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the shoulder holster constructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the holster forming part of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

The shoulder holster, in accordance with the first form of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, includes a conventional type gun, a conventional type holster l0 having a pair of upward extensions Ill and 10*.

To the upper end of the extension Ill one end of a shoulder strap I I, preferably of leather, is adjustably secured, as by a thong lacing II; and to the upper end of the extension I 0b the other end of the strap I l is permanently secured, as by stitching I l The strap I l at about midway along its length, has a slot 12 elongated in the direction of length member l5.

' 3 of the strap. Near its stitched end the strap II has a similarly elongated slot I4.

The bodyharness supplementary to the strap ll includes an upper long strap member I5, a lower long strap member l6, and a short strap member I1. These three strap members are preferably made of longitudinally elastically stretchable tapes such as used in the usual overthe-shoulders trousers-supporting suspenders.

One end of the lower long strap member ii is passed through the slot M and that end is folded back on the strap member li'and the loop there by provided is made permanent by stitching iii (note particularlyFig. 4). Similarly, one end of the upper long strap member i5 is passed through slot l2 and that end is folded back on the member l5 and the loop'thereby provided is made permanent by stitching i9.

One end of the strap member I! is secured toan' intermediate portion of the strap member It by a piece of leather which is stitched to the strap member it. The other end of the strap member I1 is passed slidably through a metal loop 2! which is secured to the strap member Ed by a piece of leather 22 which is stitched to the strap The said other end of the strap member 11, after being passed through the metal loop 2|, is doubled back upon itself and is adjustably secured to an intermediate portion of that strap member I! by the usual clamp buckle 23, as is generally known in the Suspender art. Thus, the length of the strap member 5'! is adjustable in length for controlling the spacing of the strap members 15 and H5 at the back of the wearer as is clearly evident from Fig. 2.

The point of connection between the upper end of the strap member I l and the strap member 15 is, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, preferably a little less than one-third, measured away from the strap H, of the length of the strap member l5; while the point of connection between the lower end of the strap member I7 is, as shown, preferably somewhat more than one-third, measured away from the strap ll, of the length of the strap member l6. 7

V The ends of the strap members l5 and it remote from the strap l I are brought together and passed through a metal loop 25. Stitched to the loop 25 there is a piece of leather 26 formed with an elongated slot 21 by which the ends of the strap members 15 and I6 can be secured to the button, not. shown, mounted on the inside face of the trousers under the right arm, see Figs. 1 and I The free ends of the strap members and it, after being passed through the metal loop 25, are doubledback upon themselves and are adjust ably secured to intermediate portions of their respective strap members by means of clamp buckles 24 and 26. The clamp buckles 24 and 26 permit the. operative lengths of the strap members l5 and l 6 to be adjusted to adjust the shoul- V der holster to differently sized persons.

The top end of a length of leather 28 is pivotally attached to the rear face of the bottom end of the holster ill by means of an eyelet 29, see Fig. 5. The bottom end of the length of leather 28 is formed with a buttonhole 3d by which the length of leather can be attached to a button 3!, see Fig. 5, mounted on the inside face of the top portionof the trousers 32 under the left arm.

In placing the holster on the person of a wearer, the left arm is slipped through the armhole provided between the holsters extensions lil and the strap H, and, with the harness portion including the strap members l5, l6 and llextended across the back of the wearer at the nape of the neck, the right arm is passed through the strap members i5 and i6 outward-of the strap member ll. Upon now using the slot 2! as a buttonhole relative to that one of the usual suspender buttons carried by the trousers 32 opposite the right hip, and the buttonhole 3'3 relative to the opposite such button 3!, the parts become disposed as shown in Figs. l and 2, with the shorter strap member El vertically arranged and longitudinally elastically stretchable at a location on the back of the torso centrally thereof and between the shoulder blades.

Thereby, and with the strap members i5 and 15 also longitudinally elastically stretchable from end. to end, the combination automatically adapts itself to differing body measurements'and to any one of a multiplicity of possible different postures, but always in a manner to maintain the holster with its contained weapon under the left armpit, and, under all conditions to afford the various novel and important advantages hereinabove pointed out. The adjustinentof the shoulder holster is provided for at the lacing H in connection with the one or more additional pairs of lacing holes 33 and at the clamp buckles 23, 2t and-26. V

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, there is attached to the metal loop 25, a pair of independent pieces of leather 26 each of which is formed with an elongated slot 2'! forming buttonholes for attaching the pieces of leather to the usual buttons, notshown, on the insideof the pair of trousers substantially under the right arm. 1

Likewise, the single length of leather 28 of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, has been replaced by a pair of independent pieces of leather 28' each of which is formed with a buttonhole 30. a

Furthermore, novel means is provided, in the modification of the invention, for attaching the top ends of the lengths of leather 28 to the rear face of the holster Iii, so that the holster may have limited vertical movement relative to those top ends of the lengths of leather 28' to permit the hoster It to depend freely while the person is in a stooped or sitting position.

That novel attaching means is characterized by a small plate 35 which is formed with a small horizontal slot 36 at its lower end'by which'the top ends of the lengths of leather 28 are attached to that plate. Projected forward from the front face of the plate 35, above the slot 36, there is a pin 3'! which is vertically slidably extended through aligned vertical slots. There is one slot 38 formed in the rear wall of the holster l0 and another slot 39 formed in a plate 40 secured to the inside face of that rear wall of the holster 1B. The plate 46 is secured to the rear wall ofthe holster H) by means of rivets 41 so as to reinforce the rear wall .of the holster [0' about the slot 38. The inner end of the pin 31 after being passed through the aligned slots 38 andv 39 is milled over forming a head 31 see Fig. 8, for retaining the pin from being withdrawn from the slots.

Extending over the plate 45 and the head 3'! of the pin 3'! within the holster I0, there is a sheet of leather d2 which is secured to the inside face of the rear wall of the holster It by lines of stitches 43.

In other respects the form of the invention 1 shown in Figs. 6 to 8 is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts in each of the several views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver or the like and a harness for strapping said holster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster of a harness for maintaining the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wearer, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member being connected near its opposite ends with said two longer strap members at points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to said shoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one end also to said shoulder strap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connection between said longer strap members, said element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by the holster near the bottom thereof, the last-named fastener element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite the other hip of the wearer.

2. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver or the like and a harness for strapping said holster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster of a harness for maintaining the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wearer, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member being connected near its opposite ends with said two longer strap members at points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to saidshoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one end also to said shoulder strap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connection between said longer strap members, said element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by the holster near the bottom thereof, the last-named fas-- tener element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite the other hip of the wearer, said longer strap members being longitudinally elastically stretchable, said upper one of said longer strap members being longer than the lower one thereof.

3. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver or the like and a harness for strapping said holster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster of a harness for maintaining the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wearer, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member being connected near its opposite ends with said two longer strap membersat points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to said shoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one end also to said shoulder strap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connection between said longer strap members, said element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by the holster near the bottom thereof, the last-named fastener element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite the other hip of the wearer, said shoulder strap with the holster providing an armhole, whereby when an arm of the wearer is passed through said armhole said shoulder strap at its top may extend over the adjacent shoulder of the wearer with a stretch of said shoulder strap at the back of the wearer, said two longer strap members being both attached to said stretch of said shoulder strap.

4. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver or the like and a harness for strapping said holster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster of a harness for maintaining the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wear, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member being connected near its opposite ends with said two longer strap members at points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to said shoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one end also to said shoulder strap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connection between said longer strap members, said element for coaction with a com plementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by the holster near the. bottom thereof, the las named. fastener element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is calried by an article of apparel von the wear of the holster and substantially at a point opposite the other hip oi the, wearer, saidshoulder strap with the holster providing an armhole, whereby when an arm of the wearer is passed through said armhole said shoulder strap at its top may extend over the adjacent shoulder of the wearer with a stretch of said. shoulder stra at the back of the wearer, said two longer strap members being both attached to. said stretch or said shoulder strap, with the upper of said longer strap members attached to said stretch near the top thereof, and

' with the lower of said longer strap members attached to said stretchat a point thereon about opposite theadjacent armpit of the wearer.

5. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver or the like and a harness for strapping said holster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster or" a harness for maintain ing the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wearer, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member being connected near its opposite ends with said two longer strap members at points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to said shoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one end also to said shoulder strap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connec tion between said longer strap members, said element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer oi the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by the holster near the bottom thereof, the last-named iastener element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite the other hip of the wearer, said first fastening means comprising a single length of leather attached to said longer strap members at their point of convergence and formed with a single buttonhole.

6. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver or the lilte and a harness for strapping holster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster of a harness for maintaining the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wearer, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member beingconneoted near its opposite ends with said two longer strap members at points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to said shoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one one also to said shoulde strap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connection between said longer strap members, said elementio'r ooaction with a cornmomentary element when; the latter i carried, by an article oflapparel on, the wearer of'the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by theholster near the bottom thereof, the lastnamed fastener element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite the other hip of the wearer, said'first fastening means comprising, independent lengths of leather attached to said longer strap members at their point of convergence, each of said lengths of. leather being formed with a buttonhole.

7. In a combined holster for a pistol, revolver V or the like and a harness for strapping said hol--v ster to the body of a wearer, the combination with the holster of a harness for maintaining the holster high up on the torso adjacent to an armpit of the wearer, said harness comprising a shoulder strap to the ends of which are connected to the holster at the upper part thereof, and a plurality of strap members including two longer strap members and one shortest strap member, said shortest strap member being connected near its opposite ends with said two longer strap memhere at points thereon intermediate their ends, one of said longer strap members and the upper one thereof being attached near one end to said shoulder strap and the other of said longer strap members and the lower one thereof being attached near one end also to said shoulderstrap, said two longer strap members being connected together at their other ends, a fastening element on the harness adjacent to said connection between said longer strap members, said element for coaction with a complementary element when the latter is carried by an article of apparel on the wearer of the holster and substantially at a point opposite one hip of the latter, and a fastener element carried by the holster near the pistol or the like, comprising a shoulder strap extended across the top of ones shoulder and to the-ends of which the top of the holster is secured, an elastic strap member secured at one end to said shoulder strap at the top thereof and having its other end extended across the back, over the top of the other shoulder and downward across the front of the body to the hip on the side of the body opposite the holster, a second elastic strap member secured at one end to the back of the shoulder strap and having its other end extended across the wearers back to the hip on the side of the body opposite the holster, a third elastic strap member connected at its ends to said first and second elastic strap members intermediate of their ends, a loop member joining the free ends of said first and second elastic strap members, means on said loopfor attachmentto the wearers clothing at the said hip of the 'wearers body, and means on the holster for attachment to the wearers clothing at the hip of the wearers body below the holster.

9. A shoulder harness having a holster for a pistol or the like, comprising a shoulder strap extended across the top of ones shoulder and to the ends of which the top of the holster is secured, an elastic strap member secured at one end to said shoulder strap at the top thereof and having its other end extended across the back, over the top of the other shoulder and downward across the front of the body to the hip on the side of the body opposite the holster, a second elastic strap member secured at one end to the back of the shoulder strap and having its other end extended across the Wearers back to the hip on the side of the body opposite the holster, a third elastic strap member connected at its ends to said first and second elastic strap members intermediate of their ends, a loop member joining the free ends of said first and second elastic strap members, means on said loop for attachment to the Wearers clothing at the said hip of the wearers body, and means on the holster for attachment to the wearers clothing at the hip of the wearers body below the holster, said attachment means on the holster comprising a plate positioned at the back of the holster, pieces of material depended from said plate and provided with buttonholes for engagement with buttons on the wearers clothing below the holster, and means securing said plate to the holster for limited vertical sliding relative thereto.

10. A shoulder harness having a holster for a pistol or the like, comprising a shoulder strap extended across the top of ones shoulder and to the ends of which the top of the holster is secured, an elastic strap member secured at one end to said shoulder strap at the top thereof and having its other end extended across the back, over the top of the other shoulder and downward across the front of the body to the hip on the side of the body opposite the holster, a second elastic 10 strap member secured at one end to the back of the shoulder strap and having its other end extended across the wearers back to the hip on the side of the body opposite the holster, a third elastic strap member connected at its ends to said first and second elastic strap members intermediate of their ends, a loop member joining the free ends of said first and second elastic strap members, means on said loop for attachment to the wearers clothing at the said hip of the wearers body, and means on the holster for attachment to the wearers clothing at the hip of the wearers body below the holster, said attachment means on the holster comprising a plate positioned at the back of the holster, pieces of material depended from said plate and provided with buttonholes for engagement with buttons on the wearers clothing below the holster, and means securing said plate to the holster for limited vertical sliding relative thereto, said plate securing means comprising a pin mounted on the side of said plate facing the back of the holster, the back of the holster having a vertically extended reinforced elongated slot through which said pin is slidably extended.

EARL BOOTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,301 Anderson Apr. 27, 1909 1,037,717 Audley Sept. 3, 1912 1,781,162 Clark Nov. 11, 1930 2,396,118 Ohlemeyer Mar. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 53,314 Austria Apr. 25, 1912 142,981 Great Britain May 20, 1920 

